One of the components of "The Year of Todd" was to become famous. So when I broke the news about Calhoun and a health issue an hour or two before the mainstream media I expected to get some credit. Imagine my great surprise today when I was not referenced in any media reports and, even more shockingly, Andy Katz failed to drop my name in his coverage of the UConn/St.Johns Wednesday. This was my big chance to get famous! Andy, what the fuck? I even waited until Friday to post this and sure enough still no credit being given.
I shouldn't have been so surprised. This isn't the first time 77-74dotcom has broken news and not been credited for it. There was the Harkless recruitment in late 2009, the Dyson knee injury last spring...I guess I just thought this one was different. I think I deserve some credit for these stories, let alone the things I saw and never said a word about back when I lived on campus.
As for the Calhoun health issue - I'm not worried. Many people in/around the program say he hates this group of players...which is nice, it makes him just like the fans. I've finally snapped on Kemba Walker. Gavin's play is disproportionately controlled by his white half. I love that college ball is dictated by point guards and I hate that ours plays out of control and is backed up by Donnell Beverly (who I am being forced to like) and a bunch of freshmen. I hate that our offense consists of Jerome playing out of control and Alex or Stanley trying to put back his miss. I hate that Stanley Robinson has developed into a PLAYER and no one can get him the ball. I hate that teams can zone us and, until the second half against St. Johns, get away with it. More than anything else, I hate that we play with no heart. None. No heart at all.
I think Jimmy could be back very soon - like, within 30 days. But this team needs to show it cares. It need to show it cares about playing at UConn and show it cares about it's coach. The sooner they exude even a fraction of Jimmy's desire the sooner he will be back.
I understand why Jimmy is stressed. I am one of the most unapologetic homers you will ever see and even I have trouble liking this team. I love Stanley. I came in my pants when the Chuckwagon did that face up/baseline/reverse layup in the second half against the Johnnies. I like what Alex is becoming. I am warming to Donnell just because Kemba is so awful and I really dislike the majority of the rest of the team. Oh, and I cannot root for Jerome Dyson - he's a punk.
UConn basketball has always been fun for me. This isn't fun. If I was Jimmy I wouldn't want to be a part of it either...
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Rumor Mongering on a Rainy Afternoon
take it with a grain of salt, or maybe a whole rock of it, but a source close to the UConn program just told me "I'm hearing there is some big Calhoun news coming out soon. Not sure what just thought I'd let ya know..."
I am extremely worried about it being a health issue. In any case, I'm not sure who could step in and run this team if this is a long-term issue. Glass half full says maybe this is the thing which galvanizes the team. We need focus... Having Blaney and his gentler approach at the helm might not be a terrible thing in the short term.
Jimmy - I hope all is well...
And THIS is why reporters hate bloggers
I am extremely worried about it being a health issue. In any case, I'm not sure who could step in and run this team if this is a long-term issue. Glass half full says maybe this is the thing which galvanizes the team. We need focus... Having Blaney and his gentler approach at the helm might not be a terrible thing in the short term.
Jimmy - I hope all is well...
And THIS is why reporters hate bloggers
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday "I can write this cause I quit (well, greatly reduced) my drinking" Notes
-It's not funny: UConn falls out of the top 25 for first time since January 2008. I feel like an ACC school...this is horrible
-UConn recruit Corey Joseph had 23pts and 9boards for #3 Findlay Prep in a one point victory over the #1 ranked team in the ESPN Fab 50 or whatever it's called. The kid is a player - hopefully we get lucky and land him but I'm quite skeptical of our chances.
-Farmington's finest, Tim Abromaitis, had 26pts in a loss to Syracuse. Where was this performance when UConn blew out Notre Dame earlier this year?!? If he'd shot the lights we might have been witness to something like this...
-Does anyone have tickets for UConn/Texas? The mid-day tip and lengthy on-campus pregame promises to be the greatest live blog in the history of live blogs. uconn77duke74@gmail.com - I will pay, or do, anything. Eh-nee-thing. Anything...
-Just saw Rick Barnes interviewed by Holly Rowe at the half. Talk about overcompensating for a regional dialect, Barnes sounds like Yosemite Sam! Did he talk like Tony Soprano when he coached Providence!?! I expected him to fire and blow the smoke off imaginary hand pistols when the interview was over.
-Get your advance orders in now - "Go Away, Hath Away" t-shirts are currently in production! These will the the first 77-74dotcom joke t-shirts to be produced so get in on a part of basketball parody history! I can't really sell them because there isn't a market and a CT Sales Tax ID is expensive. Good trade offers will be accepted.
-Club Trillion celebrated 2million hits last week, and then beat Purdue.
-UConn recruit Corey Joseph had 23pts and 9boards for #3 Findlay Prep in a one point victory over the #1 ranked team in the ESPN Fab 50 or whatever it's called. The kid is a player - hopefully we get lucky and land him but I'm quite skeptical of our chances.
-Farmington's finest, Tim Abromaitis, had 26pts in a loss to Syracuse. Where was this performance when UConn blew out Notre Dame earlier this year?!? If he'd shot the lights we might have been witness to something like this...
-Does anyone have tickets for UConn/Texas? The mid-day tip and lengthy on-campus pregame promises to be the greatest live blog in the history of live blogs. uconn77duke74@gmail.com - I will pay, or do, anything. Eh-nee-thing. Anything...
-Just saw Rick Barnes interviewed by Holly Rowe at the half. Talk about overcompensating for a regional dialect, Barnes sounds like Yosemite Sam! Did he talk like Tony Soprano when he coached Providence!?! I expected him to fire and blow the smoke off imaginary hand pistols when the interview was over.
-Get your advance orders in now - "Go Away, Hath Away" t-shirts are currently in production! These will the the first 77-74dotcom joke t-shirts to be produced so get in on a part of basketball parody history! I can't really sell them because there isn't a market and a CT Sales Tax ID is expensive. Good trade offers will be accepted.
-Club Trillion celebrated 2million hits last week, and then beat Purdue.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Ver-we In-tah-vesting
Just got home from dinner - Andre LaFleur and family were sitting a few table over for us...very odd seeing as UConn plays at 1:30 in Michigan tomorrow. Whats going on?
I will note, however, that one of LaFleur's son's has a birthday tonight, as I inferred from the singing and dancing Asian waitstaff. Unless the LaFleur's are one of those families who will do anything for a free piece of cake...
Anyway, assuming it was indeed his son's b-day it still doesn't seem like enough to miss the flight to Michigan. Let's see if anything happens in the next few days - hopefully it's just for recruiting purposes as he has done a great job of assuming the Karl Hobbs/Tom Moore mantle.
Needless to say, I was a bit worried to see him - let's hope this isn't a Clyde Vaughn situation. As Quatro texted me, "Is he with a hooker?" To which I responded, "Wrong asst coach."
I love me some Andre LaFleur - I used to hook him and his son up with golf when I worked at a local country club. Although, one time I hooked him up with three rounds and his buddy only had jeans on, so I leant him my rainpants in mid-summer and didn't get a single dollar for a tip. In fact, it cost me money because I had to get the baby powder smell (in his defense it was like 90 and sunny, that's a lot of sweating under there...) dry cleaned out of them. Terrible.
Oh well, hope all is well with Andre and UConn.
Coming soon...Ray Allen's text to my boss about me the other day and my story about spending a day with Ray - spoiler alert, He's the FUCKING MAN!
UPDATE - LaFleur was on the sideline for the UMich/UConn abortion of a basketball game Sunday afternoon. Guess he was able to celebrate his sons birthday and then catch a late flight out there, once again proving the UConn coaching staff is full of saints and family first guys who any high school recruit's parents should be thrilled to send their son off to...
I will note, however, that one of LaFleur's son's has a birthday tonight, as I inferred from the singing and dancing Asian waitstaff. Unless the LaFleur's are one of those families who will do anything for a free piece of cake...
Anyway, assuming it was indeed his son's b-day it still doesn't seem like enough to miss the flight to Michigan. Let's see if anything happens in the next few days - hopefully it's just for recruiting purposes as he has done a great job of assuming the Karl Hobbs/Tom Moore mantle.
Needless to say, I was a bit worried to see him - let's hope this isn't a Clyde Vaughn situation. As Quatro texted me, "Is he with a hooker?" To which I responded, "Wrong asst coach."
I love me some Andre LaFleur - I used to hook him and his son up with golf when I worked at a local country club. Although, one time I hooked him up with three rounds and his buddy only had jeans on, so I leant him my rainpants in mid-summer and didn't get a single dollar for a tip. In fact, it cost me money because I had to get the baby powder smell (in his defense it was like 90 and sunny, that's a lot of sweating under there...) dry cleaned out of them. Terrible.
Oh well, hope all is well with Andre and UConn.
Coming soon...Ray Allen's text to my boss about me the other day and my story about spending a day with Ray - spoiler alert, He's the FUCKING MAN!
UPDATE - LaFleur was on the sideline for the UMich/UConn abortion of a basketball game Sunday afternoon. Guess he was able to celebrate his sons birthday and then catch a late flight out there, once again proving the UConn coaching staff is full of saints and family first guys who any high school recruit's parents should be thrilled to send their son off to...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I Be Spiked Out, I Could Trip a Referee
3:49 - Got another 45 mins of work and I haven't accomplished anything since 1pm. I could not be more excited tonight if I was going to a eros-ny party...
5:00 - We get to Hot Tomatos for dinner. We are surprisingly on time.
5:20 - I find out the Hot Tomatos garlic bread could not be more overrated.
5:30 - The scallops are seared to perfection. The risotto tastes and is cooked like shit. I'm not at all impressed. BUT the scallops were really good.
6:40 - Walking to the XL. A guy is walking down the street screaming, "Tickets, tickets" to which I loud and obnoxiously respond, "What? What are you selling? Could you talk louder? I can't hear you, what?!" He almost punches me as we pass.
6:45 - We get to our seats. Front Row. Very nice.
6:50 - We spot Billy Gochee and Leo Almeida. They are in the fifth row. I walk over to Billy, tell him his seats suck, laugh, tell him to fuck himself, laugh, walk back to my seat, turn around and give him the finger.
6:52 - We decide to go get beers and pee before the game starts.
6:53 - Walking up these stairs from the first row is like a Crossfit workout - one of which I am still hurting from last night.
6:54 - I had a very rich dinner so I take a safety squeeze on an impressively clean toilet seat. Per usual, it's only gas...
6:57 - I meet back up with Schumey and KJ. They got light beers, I went with Bud Heavy. They both immediately acknowledge my veteran savvy - it's alcohol content before taste when 16oz costs $8.
7:12 - Donahue texts me: "Where are you" Todd: "Across from the Pitt bench, front row" Ben: "I see you- you wore maroon so you could hide" We all laugh.
7:38 - Stanley remains extremely good at jumping. Additionally, he has more points than the rest of UConn combined. Not good...
7:50 - at the half: Pitt32, Uconn29
7:53 - while Press Row goes to eat I walk past all their computers. A quick survey shows the majority of writers are stalking women on Facebook, a close second are AIM'ing, and very few are taking game notes or starting their stories.
7:55 - KJ goes to talk to some people. He meets Glenn Boggini and has the following exchange: KJ-yeah I'm here with Todd.
Glenn - where is he?
KJ - he's the faggot in the red sweater over there...
Glenn - isn't that maroon?
Point - KJ is the actual fag..real men know the difference between red and maroon.
7:58 - KJ walks back with Kenny. We exchange hellos and he tells us he has a terrible back problem. Sorrow is expressed.
8:12 - It's extremely frustrating to watch the game from the front row. The heads of the guys in press row keep getting in my way. How do people watch a game like this...
8:18 - extremely long TV timeout. ESPN must had a 30for30 commercial to run.
8:32 - I come back from a pee break and it's a 1pt game. I knew my penis was good luck! Hear that ladies...
8:33 - So it CAN get loud in the XL after all...
8:38 - a white kid and a PR do the Jersey, Shoe, Layup Race. I had big money on the PR kid, but instead of putting the shoes on he tied them together, threw them over the backboard, and sold weed to Jerome Dyson. It was terrible.
8:44 - Jimmy is fucking irate (who's irate?) with Stanley(and why are they in to 3ways?!?)
8:48 - Terrible call by Timmy Higgins and for once he can hear me scream at him.
8:49 - also, I've decided to call all black refs "Reggie Greenwood" I gotta think they'll get upset with this.
8:55 - a one possession game and only 2mins to play. A Pitt player grabs a loose ball and slides across the court like it's a Slip 'N Slide. Somehow Higgins whistles a Timeout for Pitt. On the inbounds pass I rip into him. "Hey Timmy, you know that was a travel...Why do you hate Calhoun? I thought you Irish Catholics were supposed to stick together. You're worse than John Cahill." He glares at me. The guy who brought us cackles with laughter, "You got his attention with that one!"
9:05 - Game over and we head out of XL and to BlackBear. It's trivia night. The DJ/Emcee says, "Guys, if you scream out the answers, we willll throw you out." I repeat this line a million times and it never gets old.
9:30 - Fran Fraschilla walks in. He and John Saunders did the game (lame!). I yell, "Hey, Fran! You got any inside info on Yugoslavian power forwards!?!?" He glares over. It's my second notable college basketball midget glare of the night!
9:40 - after much heckling Fran leaves. too bad.
10:10 - We leave as well. A good night because of great people but a terrible loss. Fucking terrible...
5:00 - We get to Hot Tomatos for dinner. We are surprisingly on time.
5:20 - I find out the Hot Tomatos garlic bread could not be more overrated.
5:30 - The scallops are seared to perfection. The risotto tastes and is cooked like shit. I'm not at all impressed. BUT the scallops were really good.
6:40 - Walking to the XL. A guy is walking down the street screaming, "Tickets, tickets" to which I loud and obnoxiously respond, "What? What are you selling? Could you talk louder? I can't hear you, what?!" He almost punches me as we pass.
6:45 - We get to our seats. Front Row. Very nice.
6:50 - We spot Billy Gochee and Leo Almeida. They are in the fifth row. I walk over to Billy, tell him his seats suck, laugh, tell him to fuck himself, laugh, walk back to my seat, turn around and give him the finger.
6:52 - We decide to go get beers and pee before the game starts.
6:53 - Walking up these stairs from the first row is like a Crossfit workout - one of which I am still hurting from last night.
6:54 - I had a very rich dinner so I take a safety squeeze on an impressively clean toilet seat. Per usual, it's only gas...
6:57 - I meet back up with Schumey and KJ. They got light beers, I went with Bud Heavy. They both immediately acknowledge my veteran savvy - it's alcohol content before taste when 16oz costs $8.
7:12 - Donahue texts me: "Where are you" Todd: "Across from the Pitt bench, front row" Ben: "I see you- you wore maroon so you could hide" We all laugh.
7:38 - Stanley remains extremely good at jumping. Additionally, he has more points than the rest of UConn combined. Not good...
7:50 - at the half: Pitt32, Uconn29
7:53 - while Press Row goes to eat I walk past all their computers. A quick survey shows the majority of writers are stalking women on Facebook, a close second are AIM'ing, and very few are taking game notes or starting their stories.
7:55 - KJ goes to talk to some people. He meets Glenn Boggini and has the following exchange: KJ-yeah I'm here with Todd.
Glenn - where is he?
KJ - he's the faggot in the red sweater over there...
Glenn - isn't that maroon?
Point - KJ is the actual fag..real men know the difference between red and maroon.
7:58 - KJ walks back with Kenny. We exchange hellos and he tells us he has a terrible back problem. Sorrow is expressed.
8:12 - It's extremely frustrating to watch the game from the front row. The heads of the guys in press row keep getting in my way. How do people watch a game like this...
8:18 - extremely long TV timeout. ESPN must had a 30for30 commercial to run.
8:32 - I come back from a pee break and it's a 1pt game. I knew my penis was good luck! Hear that ladies...
8:33 - So it CAN get loud in the XL after all...
8:38 - a white kid and a PR do the Jersey, Shoe, Layup Race. I had big money on the PR kid, but instead of putting the shoes on he tied them together, threw them over the backboard, and sold weed to Jerome Dyson. It was terrible.
8:44 - Jimmy is fucking irate (who's irate?) with Stanley(and why are they in to 3ways?!?)
8:48 - Terrible call by Timmy Higgins and for once he can hear me scream at him.
8:49 - also, I've decided to call all black refs "Reggie Greenwood" I gotta think they'll get upset with this.
8:55 - a one possession game and only 2mins to play. A Pitt player grabs a loose ball and slides across the court like it's a Slip 'N Slide. Somehow Higgins whistles a Timeout for Pitt. On the inbounds pass I rip into him. "Hey Timmy, you know that was a travel...Why do you hate Calhoun? I thought you Irish Catholics were supposed to stick together. You're worse than John Cahill." He glares at me. The guy who brought us cackles with laughter, "You got his attention with that one!"
9:05 - Game over and we head out of XL and to BlackBear. It's trivia night. The DJ/Emcee says, "Guys, if you scream out the answers, we willll throw you out." I repeat this line a million times and it never gets old.
9:30 - Fran Fraschilla walks in. He and John Saunders did the game (lame!). I yell, "Hey, Fran! You got any inside info on Yugoslavian power forwards!?!?" He glares over. It's my second notable college basketball midget glare of the night!
9:40 - after much heckling Fran leaves. too bad.
10:10 - We leave as well. A good night because of great people but a terrible loss. Fucking terrible...
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Halftime is a Slowtime
I got no juice for a Live Blog tonite - largely because my last one inadvertently got me in some trouble and elicited a worried text message from one friend on Monday, and moreover because they haven't been funny of late. Sure, I hit it out of the park with my Live Blog from the UConn/Colgate game, but if I'm not there it aint good. Don't worry, friends, I'll be sitting in what have been described as "Spike Lee seats" for the UConn/Pitt game so you will be able to watch me on TV while you read me lighting this blog on fire. I'm a master of all mediums... Until UConn/Pitt, you'll have to survive on this exchange of texts my life coach, Drew Joy, and I just had during the half (he is at the game, I am on my couch).
Drew: I'm confident that we could put a group of sal's placers together we could put a better dance together than the dance team. Looks like dupuis out there...
Todd: It's terrible. Problem is, u put me out there with some James Brown on and they can't play the second half cause the floorboards are literally torn up
Drew: I'd also like to see a blog about how once uconn stopped wearing team shoes their discipline declined drastically [poetry professors got wet over that alliteration]. I have personal experience w/ this if ncesary.
Todd: Hmmmmm I dont think that's true- they won first championship the same year Rip was wearing those sweet Pennys back in 1998-99. No shoes have ever said look at me like those
Drew: True. True. Personally I would probably cut up that sticky rug they step on on the sidelines
Todd: Haha. With all your fingering the whole floor would probably be stick...
Drew: Fine...but they used to at least wear the same color didn't they? Kembas are red/black, dyson white red, stanley black white edwards are blue...give me a break
Drew: Haha
Todd: Why are you so concerned with color? You're a racist
Meanwhile, Stanley's quote earlier in the week about Jeremy Hazell could not have more accurate, "He's a lot like Kobe, and he's nothing at all like Kobe." On it's face this statement sounds like another Stanley-ism. But he's right, Hazell is like Kobe because he is a gunner who will shoot a million times to make sure he gets his numbers. On the other hand, he isn't any kind of Kobe talent at all. At the half, Stanley 8pts on 4-6, Hazell 8pts on 3-11. Stanley Robinson is a beast...
Drew: I'm confident that we could put a group of sal's placers together we could put a better dance together than the dance team. Looks like dupuis out there...
Todd: It's terrible. Problem is, u put me out there with some James Brown on and they can't play the second half cause the floorboards are literally torn up
Drew: I'd also like to see a blog about how once uconn stopped wearing team shoes their discipline declined drastically [poetry professors got wet over that alliteration]. I have personal experience w/ this if ncesary.
Todd: Hmmmmm I dont think that's true- they won first championship the same year Rip was wearing those sweet Pennys back in 1998-99. No shoes have ever said look at me like those
Drew: True. True. Personally I would probably cut up that sticky rug they step on on the sidelines
Todd: Haha. With all your fingering the whole floor would probably be stick...
Drew: Fine...but they used to at least wear the same color didn't they? Kembas are red/black, dyson white red, stanley black white edwards are blue...give me a break
Drew: Haha
Todd: Why are you so concerned with color? You're a racist
Meanwhile, Stanley's quote earlier in the week about Jeremy Hazell could not have more accurate, "He's a lot like Kobe, and he's nothing at all like Kobe." On it's face this statement sounds like another Stanley-ism. But he's right, Hazell is like Kobe because he is a gunner who will shoot a million times to make sure he gets his numbers. On the other hand, he isn't any kind of Kobe talent at all. At the half, Stanley 8pts on 4-6, Hazell 8pts on 3-11. Stanley Robinson is a beast...
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Fun With Numbers
Seeing how it is Christmas Eve and everyone, other than the Jews, are out of money from ridiculous gift buying sprees, I thought it would be fun to see how much money other people have.
We know UConn is one of the leaders for players in the league, but let's see how much money they are owed...
Ben Gordon: 66 million
Charlie Villanueva: 38 million
Richard Hamilton: 50 million ... that's right, the Pistons owe UConn alums 154million thru 2013/14
Ray Allen: 20 million
Josh Boone: 5 million
AJ Price: 2 million
Caron Butler: 20 million
Rudy Gay: 8 million (2 yrs left on rookie scale - about to make a TON)
Thabeet: 29 million
Hilton Armstrong: 7 million
Emeka Okafor: 63 million (ahhh, it burns! what a horrible contract...)
Kevin Ollie: 1million
For a grand total of 12 players (sure, it's a down year, but we'll add Stanley and Jerome next year)
Those 12 players are owed 309 million over the life of their contracts, or 25.75/player (sorry Kevin Ollie, I know that # is skewed a bit. You won't see all of that projection...)
Anyway, nice to see some people are doing well. May I suggest they give some to this generous man... who hopefully will replace Hathaway someday soon
We know UConn is one of the leaders for players in the league, but let's see how much money they are owed...
Ben Gordon: 66 million
Charlie Villanueva: 38 million
Richard Hamilton: 50 million ... that's right, the Pistons owe UConn alums 154million thru 2013/14
Ray Allen: 20 million
Josh Boone: 5 million
AJ Price: 2 million
Caron Butler: 20 million
Rudy Gay: 8 million (2 yrs left on rookie scale - about to make a TON)
Thabeet: 29 million
Hilton Armstrong: 7 million
Emeka Okafor: 63 million (ahhh, it burns! what a horrible contract...)
Kevin Ollie: 1million
For a grand total of 12 players (sure, it's a down year, but we'll add Stanley and Jerome next year)
Those 12 players are owed 309 million over the life of their contracts, or 25.75/player (sorry Kevin Ollie, I know that # is skewed a bit. You won't see all of that projection...)
Anyway, nice to see some people are doing well. May I suggest they give some to this generous man... who hopefully will replace Hathaway someday soon
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
1st Semester Grades: Alex Hornat & Kyle Bailey
Grade: B
At first glance this grade might seem gratuitous considering the two have combined for 4 minutes played and 1 assist so far this season. But when considering walk-on’s we have to look beyond the numbers to measure their true value to the team. This grade is based on:
1) They bring heart. Knowing they will never appear on the floor, the walk-on needs to find other ways to influence a game. Look no further than the recent Kentucky game at Madison Square Garden. As Kemba’s desperation 3 falls short at the buzzer and is grabbed by Kentucky, who are the first players to spring off the bench and plead for a goaltending call? And if it wasn’t for them chasing down rebounds during warm-up’s, how would Jerome get all his jumpers in?
2) They got their names on jerseys. The beautiful thing about the blog at this phase is that with fewer readers than Tiger has mistresses, if I make a mistake no one notices. But in the one game they appeared in I thought both Bailey and Hornat had their names on the back. Will Rachel Uchitel please e-mail 77-74.com and let us know whether this is true; otherwise I’ll have to go with…
3) They got included in the team photo. For the rest of their lives, these kids will have their face next to future NBA’ers, immortalized on refrigerator magnets, posters, and whatever kind of promo gear the school decides to hand out. Twenty years from now they can pull out this photo and laugh about how lucky they were to play with some of these guys. Perhaps Stewie could do the voiceover: “NBA, NBA, playing overseas in Italy, NBA, incarcerated, NBA, playing overseas in Turkey”. Seriously though, it’s pretty cool and don’t think I haven’t tried to photoshop my face into that photo. And it’s possible because…
4) They are white. Normally this topic is way off-limits, but after reading Mike DiMauro’s article in The Day, apparently it’s fair game. His contention is that the decline in attendance at UConn men’s and women’s games isn’t due to the slumping economy but rather to a lack of contributing white players. So if you follow like I do then the implications are two fold: 1) that Calhoun and Auriemma have started to recruit more African-American players than in the past (which there is nothing wrong with), and 2) that Connecticut residents are racist (which will make a lot of people Elin levels of pissed off). DiMauro pretty much called the entire state of Connecticut bandwagon fans whose loyalty depends not on the success of the team but the number of white kids on the roster. So since we are all latent racist according to Freud DiMauro, I have to give out crazy extra points to my light skinned brothers.
At first glance this grade might seem gratuitous considering the two have combined for 4 minutes played and 1 assist so far this season. But when considering walk-on’s we have to look beyond the numbers to measure their true value to the team. This grade is based on:
1) They bring heart. Knowing they will never appear on the floor, the walk-on needs to find other ways to influence a game. Look no further than the recent Kentucky game at Madison Square Garden. As Kemba’s desperation 3 falls short at the buzzer and is grabbed by Kentucky, who are the first players to spring off the bench and plead for a goaltending call? And if it wasn’t for them chasing down rebounds during warm-up’s, how would Jerome get all his jumpers in?
2) They got their names on jerseys. The beautiful thing about the blog at this phase is that with fewer readers than Tiger has mistresses, if I make a mistake no one notices. But in the one game they appeared in I thought both Bailey and Hornat had their names on the back. Will Rachel Uchitel please e-mail 77-74.com and let us know whether this is true; otherwise I’ll have to go with…
3) They got included in the team photo. For the rest of their lives, these kids will have their face next to future NBA’ers, immortalized on refrigerator magnets, posters, and whatever kind of promo gear the school decides to hand out. Twenty years from now they can pull out this photo and laugh about how lucky they were to play with some of these guys. Perhaps Stewie could do the voiceover: “NBA, NBA, playing overseas in Italy, NBA, incarcerated, NBA, playing overseas in Turkey”. Seriously though, it’s pretty cool and don’t think I haven’t tried to photoshop my face into that photo. And it’s possible because…
4) They are white. Normally this topic is way off-limits, but after reading Mike DiMauro’s article in The Day, apparently it’s fair game. His contention is that the decline in attendance at UConn men’s and women’s games isn’t due to the slumping economy but rather to a lack of contributing white players. So if you follow like I do then the implications are two fold: 1) that Calhoun and Auriemma have started to recruit more African-American players than in the past (which there is nothing wrong with), and 2) that Connecticut residents are racist (which will make a lot of people Elin levels of pissed off). DiMauro pretty much called the entire state of Connecticut bandwagon fans whose loyalty depends not on the success of the team but the number of white kids on the roster. So since we are all latent racist according to Freud DiMauro, I have to give out crazy extra points to my light skinned brothers.
Monday, December 14, 2009
1st Semester Grades
Now that the first semester is over, 77-74.com is dishing out grades for each UConn player so far this season. Check back daily from now till UConn resumes play on Dec. 20th as we unveil the 77-74.com 1st Semester Grades.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
UConn/Kentucky Live Blog - "The John Wall Show"
9:37 - Normally I think Dicky V is more excited for a game like this than anyone else. But ESPN just showed John Wall in lay-up line and, honestly, I came in my pants a little bit.
9:38 - By the way...there is NO WAY UConn wins tonight. NO WAY. But for those of you who follow Vegas action, the line opened as UKY-1 and immediately moved to UConn-1.5. Something fishy is going on here - the smart money is confident UConn can win tonight.
9:42 - UKY 4, UConn 0.
Here is my last chance to embarrass John Wall tonight, compliments of Miami's DeQuan Jones (from when they were both in high school), cause UKY is about to RUN AWAY.
9:45 - A quick 2 on the Chuckwagon. He's only averaging 1.5 fouls per minute. Really...
9:49 - UKY12, UConn0 - John Wall, 6 pts, 3 steals. Who's better than advertised - John Wall or my Twitter recommendation to bet on UKY?
9:53 - UConn scores. After 5 mins of game time the UConn fans can finally step down and stop clapping.
9:54 - Dan Shulman "from the day he (Calipari) was named head coach he was out in the community." And unlike Rick Pitino he wasn't raping cougs!
9:58 - Donnell Beverly! and its a 10-0 Uconn run to make it 12-10.
9:59 - Oriakhi dunk! That's a man's move! Ohhhh yeahhhhh!
10:07 - See, here's why I hate Chris Berman. Every time the UKY kid Bledsoe's name gets said, in my mind I say "much he had a contusion!" God damn you Chris Berman!
10:13 - Holy Fouls, Batman! John Wall and seemingly the rest of the UKY starting five have 2 fouls/each. Uconn up one, this just got ver-weee intervesting...
10:19 - Terrible shot by Bledso "terrible" jon and I agree. Gavin throws the outlet pass outta bounds. "More terrible" we agree.
10:22 - Dicky V says Patterson played in HS with OJ Mayo. How did Patterson ever make it to UKY after only touching the ball 2times a game alongside Mayo?
10:31- Technical Difficulties brought to you by the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN...AWESOME! At the half, UConn29, UKY23
10:32 - Despite the first 5 minutes of the game, UKY is shooting 29%. That's Duke and UKY who UConn have held below 30%. While our shooting might suck, is it possible we play REALLY good defense?
10:50 - I'm not sure what has more technical difficulties: this broadcast or me when I'm fucking...
10:51 -This broadcast is more erratic than Tiger's penis.
10:51 - That's FOUR on the Chuckwagon in about 4 minutes of game time! geez....
10:54 - Orton just manhandled Oriakhi - did not think I would ever see that
11:00 - Jon points out, and Dicky V confirms, that with 15 mins left in the game no one has made a 3.
11:01- great challenge by Jamal on the break. Trice is nice!
Having said that, the kid has only 2 points this year and when you have to play him at the point you are toooo thin at a position.
11:05- and with 13mins to play Dyson knocks down the first three of the game.
11:06 - Cousins just ABUSED Oriakhi in the post. Just amazing. Unbelievable.
11:08 - with 11:30 left to play, this is about to be a really good game. I'm psyched! This will certainly prove to be our downfall.
11:12 - I realize these blogs are much funnier when I do them from the games. This isn't even fun..
11:13 - Schulman "patterson is down!" Todd: "good, I hope you're broken!"
11:15 - Dicky V says...11:17, so, I typed that and looked away and now I forgot what I was going to say
11:19 - Jerome Dyson gets stuffed by the rim while doing his best impression of me trying to dunk on an 8 foot hoop after a long night of drinking.
11:29 - I'm apoplectic right now. This game is crazy - I have nothing to say, but it's been ten minutes. Luckily, my live blog of Jersey Shore, episode 2, for PertinentMatters will be ACTION PACKED tomorrow. Includes live fantasy scoring. I need a big week out of J-WoWW and Angelina "Jolie" after getting run by DJ Paulie D and "Snooki" last week.
11:34 - OH! OH! I just remembered what I was going to say at 11:15! Dicky V says Mike Francesa is in the building...that is "yooge" for this game
11:37 - Bledsoe fouls out. Despite being down 2, I am CONFIDENT we can win this game if we shoot 80% the next 2:20.
11:39 - UConn forces the shot-clock violation. Turns out we might just be really good on D.
11:40 - Kemba with a huge shot to take a 1 pt lead. I'm Tiger Pumping in the living room! No, not that kind of Tiger Pump!
11:43 - For the record, I LOVED Jimmy putting Stanley on John Wall the last two possessions. You can't do anything about that shot. John Wall is just that fucking good. He is really fucking good.
11:49 - FUCKING CUNT!
9:38 - By the way...there is NO WAY UConn wins tonight. NO WAY. But for those of you who follow Vegas action, the line opened as UKY-1 and immediately moved to UConn-1.5. Something fishy is going on here - the smart money is confident UConn can win tonight.
9:42 - UKY 4, UConn 0.
Here is my last chance to embarrass John Wall tonight, compliments of Miami's DeQuan Jones (from when they were both in high school), cause UKY is about to RUN AWAY.
9:45 - A quick 2 on the Chuckwagon. He's only averaging 1.5 fouls per minute. Really...
9:49 - UKY12, UConn0 - John Wall, 6 pts, 3 steals. Who's better than advertised - John Wall or my Twitter recommendation to bet on UKY?
9:53 - UConn scores. After 5 mins of game time the UConn fans can finally step down and stop clapping.
9:54 - Dan Shulman "from the day he (Calipari) was named head coach he was out in the community." And unlike Rick Pitino he wasn't raping cougs!
9:58 - Donnell Beverly! and its a 10-0 Uconn run to make it 12-10.
9:59 - Oriakhi dunk! That's a man's move! Ohhhh yeahhhhh!
10:07 - See, here's why I hate Chris Berman. Every time the UKY kid Bledsoe's name gets said, in my mind I say "much he had a contusion!" God damn you Chris Berman!
10:13 - Holy Fouls, Batman! John Wall and seemingly the rest of the UKY starting five have 2 fouls/each. Uconn up one, this just got ver-weee intervesting...
10:19 - Terrible shot by Bledso "terrible" jon and I agree. Gavin throws the outlet pass outta bounds. "More terrible" we agree.
10:22 - Dicky V says Patterson played in HS with OJ Mayo. How did Patterson ever make it to UKY after only touching the ball 2times a game alongside Mayo?
10:31- Technical Difficulties brought to you by the worldwide leader in sports, ESPN...AWESOME! At the half, UConn29, UKY23
10:32 - Despite the first 5 minutes of the game, UKY is shooting 29%. That's Duke and UKY who UConn have held below 30%. While our shooting might suck, is it possible we play REALLY good defense?
10:50 - I'm not sure what has more technical difficulties: this broadcast or me when I'm fucking...
10:51 -This broadcast is more erratic than Tiger's penis.
10:51 - That's FOUR on the Chuckwagon in about 4 minutes of game time! geez....
10:54 - Orton just manhandled Oriakhi - did not think I would ever see that
11:00 - Jon points out, and Dicky V confirms, that with 15 mins left in the game no one has made a 3.
11:01- great challenge by Jamal on the break. Trice is nice!
Having said that, the kid has only 2 points this year and when you have to play him at the point you are toooo thin at a position.
11:05- and with 13mins to play Dyson knocks down the first three of the game.
11:06 - Cousins just ABUSED Oriakhi in the post. Just amazing. Unbelievable.
11:08 - with 11:30 left to play, this is about to be a really good game. I'm psyched! This will certainly prove to be our downfall.
11:12 - I realize these blogs are much funnier when I do them from the games. This isn't even fun..
11:13 - Schulman "patterson is down!" Todd: "good, I hope you're broken!"
11:15 - Dicky V says...11:17, so, I typed that and looked away and now I forgot what I was going to say
11:19 - Jerome Dyson gets stuffed by the rim while doing his best impression of me trying to dunk on an 8 foot hoop after a long night of drinking.
11:29 - I'm apoplectic right now. This game is crazy - I have nothing to say, but it's been ten minutes. Luckily, my live blog of Jersey Shore, episode 2, for PertinentMatters will be ACTION PACKED tomorrow. Includes live fantasy scoring. I need a big week out of J-WoWW and Angelina "Jolie" after getting run by DJ Paulie D and "Snooki" last week.
11:34 - OH! OH! I just remembered what I was going to say at 11:15! Dicky V says Mike Francesa is in the building...that is "yooge" for this game
11:37 - Bledsoe fouls out. Despite being down 2, I am CONFIDENT we can win this game if we shoot 80% the next 2:20.
11:39 - UConn forces the shot-clock violation. Turns out we might just be really good on D.
11:40 - Kemba with a huge shot to take a 1 pt lead. I'm Tiger Pumping in the living room! No, not that kind of Tiger Pump!
11:43 - For the record, I LOVED Jimmy putting Stanley on John Wall the last two possessions. You can't do anything about that shot. John Wall is just that fucking good. He is really fucking good.
11:49 - FUCKING CUNT!
You Heard It Here First, Harkless to UConn
As Dan told you on Monday, Maurice Harkless will be headed to UConn. It was confirmed today by Zagsblog.net.
NEW YORK — Maurice Harkless has made his college choice.
“I will be going to the University of Connecticut,” the 6-foot-7, 180-pound Harkless, 16, said Wednesday afternoon in the SNY studio in midtown Manhattan.
Harkless, a junior wing at Forest Hills High School in Queens, N.Y., is the No. 12 small forward and No. 50 player overall in the Class of 2011, according to Rivals.
Harkless is coming back from a broken metatarsil bone in his left foot. In his first game back he scored 21 points in Forest Hills’ 60-57 loss to Wings Academy on Sunday.
A year ago, he helped lead his high school team to the Queens borough crown and the PSAL Class AA quarterfinals.
Harkless chose UConn over Seton Hall, St. John’s, Kentucky and Fordham.Your Dan Poneman Highlight of the Day!
Todd found the new height of unintentional comedy in his post of a Corey Joseph interview with Dan Poneman. In out latest adventure, "Your Man Dan Poneman" is found interviewing what appears to be a 10 year old while wearing a sweater he stole from Billy Madison. Only 3 1/2 hours left to kill till Kentucky. Emjoy
Monday, December 7, 2009
Some People Call Me 'Uconn's next recruit'
Whether or not you get the Steve Miller reference, Maurice Harkless, a top 50 player from the class of 2011, is nearing his college decision and will announce on Wednesday, per The New York Post.
UConn is the only big name school that appears on both lists, plus he's already visited multiple times, loves the campus and Calhoun. An early welcome to Storrs from the 77-74.com staff.
If you're not convinced on the kid, enjoy this video. I think he's the one in the yellow. God help us if he's not the one in the yellow.
UConn is the only big name school that appears on both lists, plus he's already visited multiple times, loves the campus and Calhoun. An early welcome to Storrs from the 77-74.com staff.
If you're not convinced on the kid, enjoy this video. I think he's the one in the yellow. God help us if he's not the one in the yellow.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Cory Joseph
Saw this video of Cory Joseph (Draftexpress.com profile) on Mike Anthony's blog, but wanted to share it here. I mean, 5 people read this blog but NO ONE reads Mike's blog. Except for me, of course, when I need to poach material.
Before I get into where I think he's going, let me say one thing. I know what you're thinking...why do white Canadians talk like Canucks but black Canadians talk like black people? I don't know what the answer is, but it is quite thought provoking. I never heard Denham Brown profess his love for french fries and gravy or yell, 'Pass it here, ey.' Speaking of Denham, let's get him on this kids case. I mean there can't be that many black Canadians...odds are they probably know each other.
And one other thing - someone needs to Jimmy Clausen this Dan Pomeranz kid.
On to Joseph. UNLV and Minnesota are out - forget about it. Nova and Texas are clearly the front runners, and he is keeping UConn in the mix because Jimmy gets people to the pros. When he started raving about coaches personalities you knew UConn was going to be at a disadvantage. So I'm not going to get too worked up about this kid. I hope he goes to Texas and Rick Barnes ruins another career. Keep me posted though, Danny boy.
Before I get into where I think he's going, let me say one thing. I know what you're thinking...why do white Canadians talk like Canucks but black Canadians talk like black people? I don't know what the answer is, but it is quite thought provoking. I never heard Denham Brown profess his love for french fries and gravy or yell, 'Pass it here, ey.' Speaking of Denham, let's get him on this kids case. I mean there can't be that many black Canadians...odds are they probably know each other.
And one other thing - someone needs to Jimmy Clausen this Dan Pomeranz kid.
On to Joseph. UNLV and Minnesota are out - forget about it. Nova and Texas are clearly the front runners, and he is keeping UConn in the mix because Jimmy gets people to the pros. When he started raving about coaches personalities you knew UConn was going to be at a disadvantage. So I'm not going to get too worked up about this kid. I hope he goes to Texas and Rick Barnes ruins another career. Keep me posted though, Danny boy.
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